Peru and Vermont Sign Partnership Agreement

In a recent visit to Lima and Cuzco, Peru the Association of Vermont Credit Unions (AVCU) signed an international partnership agreement with the Federacion Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Credito del Peru (FENACREP). Those signing the agreement were Joe Bergeron, President of AVCU, Manuel Rabines, CEO of FENACREP, John Benoit, AVCU Board Chairman, Jorge Zevallos Carpio, FENACREP Chairman, and Victor Corro, WOCCU's international partnerships manager.

The partnership is through the World Council of Credit Union's (WOCCU) International Partnerships Program. The signing of the agreement was the payoff after two years of preparation between the two credit union movements. The trip was a follow-up to Peru's visit to Vermont last November.

In addition to the signing, AVCU also made a special appearance in front of the Cooperative Committee of Peru's National Congress where Bergeron explained to legislators the difference between credit unions and banks and their tax-exempt status in the US. The group also made visits to San Hilarion Credit Union, ABACO Credit Union, Finantel Credit Union, AELUCOOP Credit Union, and Santo Domingo de Guzman Credit Union.

The partnership will give the credit union movements the ability to collaborate on key areas of focus such as deposit insurance for members. The future of this partnership will also provide more means for communication including presentations at each other's conventions and additional partnership developments at the credit union-level.


(Picture 1: Back Row:
(Picture 2: Manuel Rabines, CEO of FENACREP, signing the partnership agreement at the signing ceremony)

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Intern

Trinidad and Tobago Enjoy and Learn at Connecticut Meeting

(Pictured is Dr. Winford James, President of the Board of Directors CCULTT,
Kathy Chartier, Chair of CULC, Diane Joseph, Manager of CCULTT,
Kevin Chandler, CEO of CULC.)

The Credit Union League of Connecticut recently welcomed two visitors from the Cooperative Credit Union League of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Winford James, President of the Board of Directors, and Dianne Joseph, Manager of CCULTT.

The visitors from CCULTT were invited to participate in CULC's Annual General Meeting, a variety of educational and planning sessions, and also visit the league office and credit unions in the state.

In Connecticut, Dr. James and Ms. Joseph discussed league operations with league officials, visited the Seasons Federal Credit Union and Members Credit Union, and participated in a planning session with the partnership committee. Afterwards, the group attended the CULC's AGM where educational sessions and social events took place. Dr. James addressed the meeting with greetings from Trinidad and Tobago.

The planning session mainly comprised of a discussion about areas of cooperation which could benefit the partnership in the proceeding year. The discussion led to the theme of developing a good governance model and job descriptions, qualifications, and accountability measurements for board members. This initiative would help to achieve CCULT's mission of reuniting its league after the loss of 15 of its credit unions.

The partners concluded that the visit had an important impact on both sides, and displayed one of the most valuable outcomes of a partnership, the bonds that grow between the people of different cultures, especially when they have the commitment of credit union development.

On May 21, five representatives will travel from the CULC to Trinidad and Tobago and plan to visit credit unions, participate in the leadership conference, and continue the planning discussions.

Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships Intern

Partnership Opportunity Discussed at Idaho Annual Meeting

(Alan Cameron and Shane Berger, CEO of Beehive Federal Credit Union
explain their discussions with WOCCU regarding
international credit union development.)

Victor Corro, International Partnerships manager of WOCCU, attended the Idaho Credit Union League's General Annual Meeting in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on Monday, May 14.

During the Board of Director's dinner, Mr. Corro explained the makings of the International Partnerships program and the different oppotunities available for establishing partnerships between the ICUL and other credit union movements. Alan Cameron, CEO of ICUL, also commented on the new partnership opportunity stating, "The credit unions in Idaho are ready to take the next step and help credit unions overseas." Mr. Cameron continued by complimenting the partnerships program, "We [ICUL] look forward to a long-lasting relationship with WOCCU."

The league is interested in a partnership with the South Pacific Islands where an immediate need exists to strengthen the credit unions and the league there. One of the many benefits to the credit unions would be the possibility of merging which would create a more sustainable model.

As the presentation came to an end, Mr. Corro closed by describing a unique cooperative opportunity between the ICUL, the Solomon Islands and Australia.


Written by Josh Fetting, International Partnerships intern

Alabama Hosts Costa Rica

During his first visit to the US, Manuel Bolaños (CEO, FEDEAC, pictured at right) attended the Alabama Credit Union League's Annual Meeting in Destin, FL. The two credit union entities have been partnered through WOCCU's International Partnerships program since July of 2006.

The partnership allows for direct credit union-to-credit union relationships. Currently, there are five Alabama credit unions working in conjunction with five Costa Rican credit unions. The partnership provides a way to share information and develop strategies in areas of cooperation between the credit unions.

In an address to the ACUL's board of directors, Mr. Bolaños boasted the many advantages and opportunities that the partnership has provided them.

In Pensacola, FL, Mr. Bolaños toured the Pen Air Federal Credit Union (an Associate Member of the ACUL). The tour was proceeded by a discussion of credit union operations led by John Davis, CEO of PenAir Federal Credit Union. Victor Corro, International Partnerships manager, WOCCU, and Corinne Hodges, ACUL representative.

The partnership has also led to the awareness of the importance of advocacy and lobbying, which has allowed the FEDEAC to hire a lobbyist who has been crucial to the credit union industry in Costa Rica.

Common Themes Emerge at US-Mexico Meeting

(US-Mexico meeting, Ontario, CA. Pictured is (left to right): Tomás Carrizales,
Federacion Alianza, Ramón Imperial Zúñiga, Cirilo Rivera Rivera, Josefina Cerda Moreno from Caja Popular
Mexicana, Sylvia Lyon, New Mexico Credit Union Association.)

In an unprecedented meeting, the Mexico-United States partnerships
convened at the California Credit Union League in Ontario, CA on April
24 and 25 to conduct individual strategic planning sessions and
come up with a common strategy that leverages
the strengths of the credit unions in each country.

The CEO's of the Mexican Cajas were present(Federacion Alianza,
Caja Libertad,Caja Popular Mexicana,Caja Morelia Valladolid)
along with the CEO's of the Texas, California, and North Carolina Credit
Union Leagues, and the COO of the Arizona Credit Union League.

Carlos Calderon (CEO, OAS Credit Union in Washington, DC) led the main
brainstorming session where key areas of action were identified: enhanced
delivery service, internships, Hispanic marketing and growth strategies.
These main actions would help US credit unions attract more members from
the Latino community and also help the Mexican cajas create the
transactional volume needed for new cross-border enhanced delivery
channels such as shared branching and increased remmittances activity.

WOCCU, taking advantage of the strong relationship between the US credit
unions and Mexican cajas, will launch a total immersion program which will help to
facilitate membership growth and transactional volume.  The program
will include four main components: Spanish classes, internship at a credit union
branch, cultural exposure through home stays with host families, and
targeted marketing instruction by the Cajas.  The program will take place from
September 15 to 30, 2007 in Queretaro and Guanajuato, Mexico and will cost less
than $150 a day.  Participants will be able to take advantage of the credit union
differences in Mexico.  The program deadline is July 31.

WOCCU will also be organizing a summit in September to create
an effective strategy to recruit and retain members from the Latino community and
to diversify established credit unions.  WOCCU is opening offices throughout Central
and South America to position itself to help teach these techniques of membership
growth.

For more information, read the press release.

Caja Popular Mexicana Praised at Annual Assembly

During Caja Popular Mexicana's General Annual Meeting, Dick Ensweiler, CEO Texas Credit Union League, and Gary Plank, WOCCU chairman, praised the credit union for its tremendous success in becoming Mexico's largest credit union. Plank also discussed some important issues such as membership growth and shared branching. Speakers including Ensweiler, Plank and Bill Cheney, CEO California Credit Union League, traveled to Lyon, Mexico on April 19.

Under the leadership of Ramon Impreial Zuniga and with the invaluable support of the staff and volunteers at CPM, the caja has overcome such challenges as high delinquencies, stagnant membership growth and outdated technology and has reworked its infrastructure to include a new IT platform and standard policies and procedures. With over one million members, declining delinquency rates, and new points of service opened up, CPM has brought many important financial services to families throughout Mexico.


CPM has been partnered with TCUL and CCUL through WOCCU's international partnership program since 2002. The three credit unions, also including New Mexico Credit Union League and the Arizona Credit Union League, will be meeting in Ontario, CA on April 24 and 25 for an international summit to explore more cooperative opportunities.

Caja Libertad Explores U.S. Foundations

A delegation from Caja Libertad, the second largest credit union in Mexico, visited various foundations and community development specialists last week in their visit to the U.S.

The delegation learned about state, national and international foundations and the impact the foundations have, which will help it establish its own foundation and expand the current philanthropic work they do.

Visitors included Caja Libertad's Paolo Lezama, executive director; Hugo Bustamante, president of the education committee; and Cesar Izurieta, executive vice president of marketing.

"We currently fund financial literacy programs, health and wellness activities, programs that help to keep our cooperative culture alive and numerous community reinvestment initiatives," said Bustamante. "But we think we can do more, through a separate foundation."

The group met with the Arizona CU System. Sandy Watts, marketing and communications director, said, "We discussed key topics like who decides how to spend funds and why, the grant request system, the organizational structure, legal status and their foundation's history." Watts also shared successes and challenges for foundations starting out. The group also toured Arizona Federal and Desert Schools FCU.

In Madison, the group met with WOCCU's Worldwide Foundation manager, Valerie Breunig, who discussed the importance of organizational structure and how to find donors. She also worked through potential business strategies with Caja Libertad, reviewed goals and discussed how to raise funds.

Kris Hoffman Ackley, the National Credit Union Foundation's director of donor relations, provided an indepth view of fundraising at a national level.

The group also met with Selfreliance Ukrainian American FCU, Chicago, where CEO Bohdan Watral and his staff discussed their community reinvestment activities.

Webinar Bridges New York and Puerto Rico

Credit unions in Puerto Rico and the New York State Credit Union League (NYSCUL) expanded their partnership this week during the first World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) International Partnership webinar.

Juan E. Fernández, NYSCUL community development coordinator explained, “We conducted the webinar because we wanted our partners to be able to ask questions about services and issues in real time.”

During the webinar New York State Credit Union League provided participating Puerto Rico credit unions temporary access and hands on experience with all of the league's cyberservices. With Puerto Rico’s credit unions operating under similar requirements as its US partner, the member compliance section of the website and the support services were of particular interest to the group.

NYSCUL hopes to open Puerto Rico up to the outside world through its connections and training initiatives with other leagues and CUNA. Some of NYSCUL's legal staff has already started reviewing Puerto Rican law to be able to answer credit union queries.

The International Partnership hopes to provide vital services to credit unions in Puerto Rico, where credit unions do not have league of their own to provide education, training and compliance services. Because of the initiatives undertaken by the partnership, individual credit unions in Puerto Rico are able to join the NYSCUL as direct members.

Iowa Pioneers with Panama for CU-Specific Regulation

Five delegates from the Iowa Credit Union League (ICUL) went to Panama during the second week of January to aid the efforts of the Panama credit union league (COFEP) in establishing credit union regulation.

The visit was the two leagues' fourth face-to-face exchange in the two years as part of their internatinoal partnership through WOCCU.

The ICUL group visited four credit unions, met with government officials and COFEP executives, and spoke at a one-day conference on credit union best practices. One topic of interest ot the Panama group is lobbying and its potential benefits.

"For the great majority, a relatively new topic like lobbying or lobbying to achieve positive things for the credit unions was interesting," said COFEP CEO Jacinto Villarreal.

Pat Drennen, ICUL board director and general manager of 1st Gateway CU, Camanche, said it is sometimes difficult for the Iowa team to convince their counterparts that lobbying is a good thing.

"The issue of...lobbying is kind of foreign in Panama because the mindset is that if you're talking to a government offical, you're bribing them," he explained.

In a symbolic gesture at the end of the conference, ICUL gave a letter directed to Panama's president to Arnulfo de León, the government's director of human resources. The letter expressed the need for credit union-specific regulation in Panama.

Picture taken during a visit to El Palacio de las Garzas where the President of Panama has his offices.

Alabama & Costa Rica CU-to-CU Partnerships Kick Off

Representatives from three Alabama credit unions made their first trip to Costa Rica in late December in search of opportunities to expand their relationships with partnering Costa Rican credit unions.

The first afternoon of the visit was spent with FEDEAC's board of directors, where visitors became acquainted with their overseas peers in the national federation.

The group also joined COOPENAE for an evening to help celebrate its 40th Anniversary. Throughout the remainder of the stay, representatives met with their partnering credit unions and identified a work plan beneficial to each organization.

Gary Wolter, CEO, and Vicki Williams, SEVP & COO, of the Alabama Credit Union League joined Manuel Bolaños, FEDEAC CEO, and Victor Corro, WOCCU International Partnerships Manager, during the week to identify areas in which FEDEAC can better serve its members.

The group included representatives from Community CU, Gadsden; Family Security CU, Decatur; Mutual Savings CU, Birmingham; and the Alabama Credit Union League. There are currently 5 credit union-to-credit union partnerships between Alabama and Costa Rica.